One of the biggest confidence boosters for a believer is when they know for sure that they are saved. The devil works very hard and is often successful at keeping believers in doubt concerning their salvation. A believer that doubts their salvation is not going to be much of a threat to Satan and his work. Once we have confidence in our salvation other things will begin to happen.

Most people are quick to point out verse 15. This makes God sound more like a grandfather than the Father. The key to getting what you ask for is found in verse 14. Underline the phrase “according to His will”. That means that if you ask God for something and He says no that it may be because it’s not in His will.

You find out God’s will for your life through prayer, Bible study, circumstances in life, and other believers. You must be rid of all un-confessed sin in your life so that you may hear from God. When you are walking in the Spirit you will ask God for the proper things.

These two verses have created much controversy. Let me share the two main points of view concerning “the sin that leads to death”. Even the two translations of Scripture above differ on interpretation.

One of the views believes that this must be the unpardonable sin; which is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The second view is that this is a sin that leads to a physical death; but not a spiritual death. Let’s look at these two closer.

If this is the unpardonable sin then this means that a Christian can lose their salvation. How do we know this is speaking about a Christian? Verse 16 says, “If anyone sees his brother…” This is in reference to a Christian sibling. Let’s define what unpardonable means. It means that it is unforgivable.

Underline the words “all unrighteousness” in the verse 9 in the NIV text. Also underline in chapter 2 verse 1 the words “anybody” and “speaks to the Father in our defense”. Also underline in verse 2 the words “atoning sacrifice” and “the sins of the whole world”.

Why underline all of this? This is our answer. As Christians there is nothing you can do that God cannot and will not forgive. If there is any sin so bad that we can lose our salvation, then we are saying Christ wasn’t enough.

The only sin that God cannot forgive is the sin of rejecting the Holy Spirit at the time of conviction. “Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” simply occurs when a “lost” person is being convicted that they need Christ as Savior and they reject God’s invitation. If a person dies without Christ as Savior they have committed a sin that is unforgivable and will die a spiritual death in Hell.

So let’s go back to the original question, “Which point of view is correct”? Obviously, I believe this is referring to believers who are embarrassing God by their sinful living and God had enough and brought them home.

Christians if our Christian brother or sister does not die from their sin we are to go to them in love and help them back into obedience to God. How doe we help them? First, we pray for them. God does discipline His children.

As God’s children, He sees us as righteous. How could that be? The blood of Christ is upon us; which cleanses us from all sin. It is only because of the blood of Jesus that we can go into the presence of God.

Satan can only attack us when God allows him to; therefore God will not allow us to go through more than we can handle. This also means that Satan can never ultimately defeat us. We win! The devil loses!

John concludes this letter with one simple reminder of remaining true to your Father God.